The new auditorium at Seeley-Swan High School is ready for use with only a few minor things left to be completed. The community is invited to a Celebration of the Arts Open House, April 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. to see the new space, enjoy refreshments and snacks and listen to various performances. Because permanent seating did not fit into the budget, folding chairs are currently being used for performances.
The new choir room. The door in the back left accesses the instrument storage while the doors to the right enter the stage. All rooms are outfitted with automatic lights.
The smaller of the three practice rooms. One room is being used by the drama class. Ambrozich said the rooms are fairly sound proof.
The lights are LED and can be programmed to synchronize with music or for any production. There are six dome and six elliptical, long throw lights. Every LED light is on a universe with 512 channels.
SEELEY LAKE – With the exception of a few finishing touches, the improvements to Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) are complete. The improvements were funded through Missoula County Public School's (MCPS) bond. The community is invited to a Celebration of the Arts Open House April 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. to see the new auditorium, enjoy refreshments and cake and listen to a variety of SSHS students and the Seeley Swan Mountain Bells perform.
Voters approved the MCPS bond in November 2015. Of the $70 million high school bond, SSHS received $2.2 million in upgrades.
While the initial timeline was for all of the work to be completed during the summer, construction was not completed until early in 2017.
"The process was pretty darn awesome," said Dr. Pecora. "The construction crew did a wonderful job of trying to keep the noise down and they even hired a student as a part of [the student's] business coop experience. [Senior] Quinton Johnson actually got to work on the auditorium. [The construction crew] were very accommodating and concerned that they not disrupt the process here at school."
Safety improvements to SSHS included a dual-access restroom and increased security at the front and back entrances to the school.
The new bathroom is fully operational. It can be accessed from the stage and the library. The door to the stage remains locked during the school day so library patrons cannot access the stage through the bathroom and vice versa.
The entrances now have a double-door locking system. SSHS Principal Dr. Kathleen Pecora said they are going to wait to upgrade to a key-card access system until the fall. All the staff and students currently have identification cards, but they do not have the electronic strips. When the electronic locking mechanism is fully operational, visitors will be buzzed in from the office and after-hours access will be programmed into the system.
Structural upgrades to SSHS funded through the bond included: replacing the old gymnasium roof and floor; bringing the walls up to code by marrying a structural form to the existing wall to add rigidity; and replacing the boiler system and vents.
Dr. Pecora said they were able to add air conditioning to the computer labs to help better regulate the temperature since the rooms get very warm when the temperature warms up outside.
SSHS also received a new stage that they are calling the new auditorium. It was added to the west wall of the old gym. It includes a stage with a full sound and lighting system and large screen with short-throw projector, choir room, instrument storage and three practice rooms. The band practices on the stage.
"In the construction of all of this, the band room seemed to get smaller than we thought it would be. Kaytee [Ambrozich, music director] has to work that out, moving instruments around and coordinate use with the drama class as well," said Dr. Pecora.
While Ambrozich said it does take a little extra time to set up and tear down for class every day, she is very happy to have the new space.
"The students actually get to experience a real auditorium which is wonderful," said Ambrozich. "They get to experience that it is more than just performing in a gym at high school."
Ambrozich said the auditorium also opens up new opportunities for students, like the drama program. In her opinion, while a drama program can be offered, until there is a performing space it cannot be done well.
Putting the two programs in the same space has offered new challenges.
"Definitely been learning a balancing act of sharing," said Ambrozich. "We are so used to our own individual spaces. Crissina [Quinn, the drama teacher] is so great to work with."
Ambrozich said she has also seen a change in the students' attitude. She has seen them taking more pride in what they do because they have an auditorium.
"We got a brand new auditorium so clearly what we are doing is awesome," said Ambrozich. "It's so nice for them to see them take pride in it."
Dr. Pecora said that currently the only policy in place for outside groups to use the new facility is the general MCPS policy for facility use.
"I'm not sure that is reasonable for our community. It is my intent to have some type of policy or understanding or expectation, whatever you want to call it, in place by the fall so we all know where we stand that is fair to the Seeley community, not necessarily the same as they are doing in the Missoula," said Dr. Pecora. "I will do my best to make it palatable to the Seeley-Swan communities."
The Celebration of the Arts April 12 is an opportunity for the community to see the new auditorium, enjoy cookies, cake, refreshment and entertainment. The band and choir students will be performing as well as the Seeley Swan Mountain Bells. The drama class will be performing a preview to their upcoming play and students will be sharing their writings. This is an open house format so everyone is welcome to come and go as their schedule allows.
The new auditorium will also be used for the Prom Grand March April 14 at 7 p.m. The drama class will be presenting "We Will Be Right Back After This Murder" April 20.
Dr. Pecora said, "The new auditorium is beautiful and we are excited to start making some good use of it."
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